Wheelbarrow.



' B. E. SMITH.

WHEELBARROW.

PATENTED APR. 10, 1906.

UNITED STATES PATENT EEICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 10, 1906.

Application filed June 13, 1905. Serial No. 265,039-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BIoN E. SMITH, a citizen of the United States,residin at Bainbridge, county of Chenango, and State of New York, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Wheelbarrows, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in wheelbarrows,and has for its object to provide a wheelbarrow in which the articles tobe transported need not be lifted but a slight distance from the groundin order to load them upon the barrow; and a further object of myinvention is to provide a wheelbarrow of this description which will notonly be strong, durable, and efficient, but at the same time can bemanufactured at a comparatively small cost.

With these ends in view this invention consists in the details ofconstruction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and thenspecifically designated by theclaim.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this inventionappertains may understand how to make and use the same, the constructionand operation will now be described in detail, referring to theaccompanying drawing, in which is represented a perspective view of myimproved wheelbarrow.

A represents the two handle-bars, which form the main frame of themachine. The outer ends of the handle-bars terminate in handles A. Thesehandle-bars approach one another at the end farthest from the handles,and at this narrowest end they join together by means of a block B,inserted between the bars, with a bolt passing through the end of thebars and through the block B.

C is the wheel journaled in and between the handle-bars A, the peripheryof the wheel coming in close proximity to the block B at the narrowestend of the frame.

D is a bar extending between the handlebars A and just rearward of thewheel C. A bolt E passes through from one handle-bar to the other at therear of the bar D, so that the handle-bars A are secured together. atthe two points B and D, so as to form a strong frame and afford abearing for the wheel 0.

F is a platform suspended from the handlebars at the rear of the bar D.This platform can be made in any suitable manner and secured to thehandle-bars in any way desired.

In the drawing the platform-framework consists of two U-shaped metalframes G, secured to the handle-bars at their upper ends, one frame Gbeing secured near the bar D and the other secured to the handle-barsforward of the same. The lower portions or cross-pieces of the frame Gare joined together by straps G, which form a platform upon which thearticles to be transported can rest. The platform F is suspended at sucha distance below the handle-bars A that when the platform rests upon theground the handle-bars will be practically horizontal. Thus it will beseen that in transporting heavy articles, such as milk-cans or the like,it is simply necessary to back the wheelbarrow up to the article so thatthe article will ass between the handles and then by simp y tilting thearticle the platform can be brought underneath and the article pushedupon the platform, and then by grasping the handles A the article can beraised and transported to any point desired and as easily unloaded.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction hereshown, as slight modifications could be made Without departing from thespirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and usefulis In a wheelbarrow, two handle-bars spread at one end and convergingtoward one an other at the other end, handles formed upon the ends ofthe handle-bars at their widest end, a'block secured between the ends ofthe handle-bars at their end, a bolt passing through the ends of thehandle-bars and through the block, a wheel journaled between thehandle-bars at the forward end, a bar secured between the handle-barsdirectly in the rear of the Wheel, two U-shaped frames, their upper endsbeing secured to the handle-bars, one frame forward of the other, theforward frame in close proximity to the cross-bar, the lower portions orcross-pieces of the U-sha ed frames being joined together to form a patform, as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

BION E. SMITH.

Witnesses:

H. B. HALLOOK, L. W. MORRISON.

